A B41 bus drives in Downtown Brooklyn the morning after Zohran Mamdani’s election day win in New York City, U.S., November 5, 2025. REUTERS/Angelina Katsanis
(Trenton, New Jersey) – NJ Transit is facing backlash over plans to dramatically raise train fares during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with tickets from New York Penn Station to MetLife Stadium expected to soar to around $100.
The World Cup should be as affordable and accessible as possible.
Charging over $100 for a short train ride sounds awfully high to me.
That’s not happening on the MTA. https://t.co/CQDuxT3Bdw
— Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) April 14, 2026
The roughly 18-mile trip—normally priced at $12.90—would jump by as much as 775% for match days, according to reports citing sources familiar with the proposal.
Transit officials have not finalized pricing, but indicated that regular commuters will not bear the cost. State leaders say the goal is to avoid subsidizing World Cup transportation with taxpayer dollars.
“We are not going to be paying for moving the people who are viewing the World Cup on the back of New Jersey taxpayers and commuters,” Gov. Mikie Sherrill said.
The proposed pricing structure would reportedly apply broadly, including to riders who typically qualify for discounted fares, such as seniors, children, and disabled passengers.
With eight World Cup matches set for MetLife Stadium, the potential fare hike is already drawing criticism from fans and transit advocates, who argue the spike could price out everyday riders looking to attend the games.
